13

OK, Ianto hated him. Like… he made his skin crawl hated him. He wanted him to leave him alone, to bugger off and give him space to comprehend this strange turn of events. But John seemed to know this, so he was following him from room to room like a puppy, skipping around as he gushed and prodded, touching him as he went.

Finally, Ianto had enough and stepped out onto the nearest large balcony to let another take care of it, the slight noise of the a deep breath stalling John. John slowly turned to find a little blue dragon eyeballing him, their faces so close that John's hair was fluttering with each breath.

The dragon was only the size of a pony, but that was more than enough to chew off his face if it so desired. And as it opened it's jaws to show him that his face would fit nicely, Ianto snorted.

"John, this is Peaky, named for the little flick of hair on his head. Not many have fur or hair, most are pure scale. But every now and then, one gets a fetlock of hair, even some have tails like horses" Ianto said conversationally "And he is considering eating you as you are proving troublesome to me."

"It's… it's a dragon" John said stupidly.

"No, is it? I thought it was some sort of exotic parrot" Ianto blinked slowly.

John turned to look at him. A finger raised and putting at the dragon "It's a dragon."

"He will bite that finger off it it gets much closer. They do not like being pointed at" Ianto smiled softly "Peaky, begone."

The dragon made a soft chirping noise and then took off. Jonh ran to the edge of the balcony and leaned over the railing to see it leave, his eyes wide as he laughed. Ianto waved a hand "See? A parrot. Did you not hear him chirp?"

John could not get a handle on this strange one, turning to face him now and as Ianto turned to go John looked down at the bump and finally saw it for what it was. Not a fat belly, but a pregnant one.

"Shit. You… you're stuffed".

"No, not really but you might be if you are not careful."

John decided that he liked this one, following as Ianto moved quietly and somewhat swiftly through a tunnel system in the wall that had startled John at first, erupting into the kitchen where the cook did not even look up from the large cauldron of soup she was stirring.

They traipsed past and moved towards the stables.

"Oh, you going for a ride? Can I come?" John asked.

"If you can keep up, but I warn you, my girl is fast".

John preened as he pointed to the goegeous bay standing at a trough, a nice large sixteen hander. "Mine is too. He can out gallop yours."

Ianto did not answer, going into the stalls to saddle up his girl, Janet rearing to go and glad of there not being the heavy chainmail, just a blanket and her reins. Ianto was going to go bareback, something that they both enjoyed. She ran faster without a girth strap.

Ianto simply clambered up as he always did, the large belly somewhat cumbersome but she did lower herself as she usually did to make it easier, and he rode her out into the keep. John had his back to them and looked up from his own horse, busy tugging the girth stap to see stable hands and servants scattering like a wild dog was loose. He turned and froze.

Janet regarded him as Ianto sat high on her shoulders, his feet swinging free as there were no boring stirrups.

"Well?" Ianto asked, leaning over her shoulder to look down at the man who was trying to somehow slide inside his horse "Ready?"

"That… that's not a horse" John spluttered "That… that is a fucking hell demon."

"Ah, aren't we all" Ianto adjusted himself and started to giggle "Well… we are definitely from the fires of Hades, I do not know which level you have reserved."

"Come" Ianto said as the huge bast moved towards the open gate, "Well? Don't keep me waitin' now".

John swore as he struggled up into the saddle and followed Ianto out to find…. Dust.

Janet was flying, her hooves barely touching the ground as she sped like the spark of fire she was, her face full of glee and her rider leaning forward to urge her on, his fingers pulling gently at her mane which had grown back in the perfect spot to use as a pummel

Ianto's raw affection flowed from those fingers into her muscle and she felt such joy, such open freedom.

John was about to whip his horse when another shot past, Rhys calling back "Whip that horse and he will whip you with that whip when he catches ya doing iiiitttttt"

John discarded the whip and finally gave his mount it's bit, letting it go.

By the time he caught up Janet was under some trees staring into space dreamily chewing on some clover as Rhys tethered his own mount, turning to grin at John "There ya be!"

"What is she?" John gasped, panting as he slid form his horse to stare up at the monster.

"Ianto's"